Max Rothman

Posts by Max Rothman

Shrugging Off Negativity, Energy Drink Companies Push Forward

Seemingly every month, an energy drink company takes a black eye from a new, harrowing slate of news, another lawsuit, a demeaning study, a band of legislators with belts tied too tight and constituencies to appease. Whether justified or not, energy drinks have been painted as an evil that’s worthy of no more than the pariah life. But the industry isn’t exactly flabbergasted.

Learning to Say No

Accepting too many disparate offers has the potential to spread a brand too quickly or even to gut its identity. Therefore, several speakers at BevNET Live last week in New York City echoed Nancy Reagan, advising entrepreneurs to “just say ‘no.’”

Bai Executive Helps Brand Achieve ‘Look of Success,’ Named New President

One week after Ben Weiss, the founder and CEO of bai, said at BevNET Live in New York that he expects his company’s sales to increase fivefold this year, he followed his words with an executive shift, announcing Tuesday that Ken Kurtz has been promoted to company president.

The Brand Emanates from the Team

With Mike Kirban’s new-age-y approach to management, which he shared on stage during BevNET Live Summer '13 last week in New York, he revealed that he had established Vita Coco as a state of both mind and business.

BevNET Live: Brand Identity, Patience Key Profitability

It's rare to see Don Vultaggio, the co-founder of AriZona Beverage Co., out in a public forum, as he was during his appearance on Tuesday during BevNET Live Summer '13 in New York. But he appeared to be in a fine mood, letting his own style, which symbolizes an insightful, unique nature that has carried his company to sustained achievement, wash over the crowd.

Motto Wins New Beverage Showdown 5, Will Enter Kroger Stores

Motto not only survived judge Kelly Marlowe’s tough question; they braved the field of 21 and won the showdown’s first place, granting them a $5,000 jumbo check (game show style), an automatic entry into select Kroger retail locations, and the less tangible rewards of this competition, such as exposure and pride.

New Beverage Showdown 5 Finalists Substantiate Industry Shift

The final six brands in New Beverage Showdown 5 at BevNET Live Summer ’13 in New York City confirmed an increasingly evident truth about innovation in this industry. “The days of artificial everything are the days of the past,” said Eric Schnell, a judge for the event and the founder and CEO of Metabrand.

The Aya-Cola Moves to Booze

Sergio Zyman, the former chief marketing officer of The Coca-Cola Company and the chairman and founder of Zyman Marketing Group, was appointed to Castle’s board of directors, it was announced Thursday in a release.

Aiming for Enhancement

Adapting to the millennial generation’s desire for variety and convenience (dubbed “the chill hustle” by MTV trendspotter Nick Shore at BevNET Live Winter 2012), a multitude of brands have altered their approach to beverages. It’s not just what the beverage is—it’s what you can add to the beverage. As a result, powder and liquid enhancers have further cemented their positions in the beverage industry, symbolizing the new-age thirst for portable interaction and healthy products.

Sparkling Ice Ups Stock in Lemonade

Sparkling Ice, the core brand of TalkingRain Beverage Co. and one of the fastest growing non-alcoholic beverage lines in the country, has expanded its lemonade portfolio with three new flavors: Raspberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Lemonade with Tea.

‘Kombucha Crisis’ Fuels Progress

The so-called "Kombucha crisis" seems to tell us more about an affinity for alliteration than anything resembling reality; several beverage industry veterans believe that it hasn’t been detrimental at all. In fact, some say that the supposed calamity actually fueled Kombucha’s rapid rise.

Sweet Leaf Founder Hires Deep Eddy CEO

In a hotel across the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif., about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, Clayton Christopher had dinner with Eric Dopkins to discuss consulting. He didn’t expect to make a hire.